News

Premier Cricket Opening Weekend Preview - Part Three

Date of Event
Victorian Premier Cricket:
Fri Oct 4, 2019 10:16AM

The opening weekend of Women’s Premier Cricket commencing on Sunday will see the season commence with the T20 component being played as double-header matches against the same club. Women’s Premier 1st XI will be seeing the Player Points system coming in full-time for this season after a pilot during the previous summer’s action.

Box Hill will take on neighbours Ringwood at Schramms Reserve. The Mustangs have seen a change of coach with Rob Elliott (husband of former Australian and Dandenong player Sarah) in charge but minimal activity in the recruiting space with Amy Jennings moving to Carlton-Brunswick but picking up Tahlia Meier in return, while Ringwood have been busy on the recruiting front, with Irish representative Una Raymond-Hoey, former EMP player Emma Lynch and former WA and Perth Scorchers player Bhavisha Devchand part of the influx to the Rams. The Rams’ will be continuing to gel together with new players, while the Mustangs with their more settled line-up should be expected to come away with the points for both games.

Carlton-Brunswick will host Prahran at Princes Park #1. The Strikers have been active over the winter, with attracting ex-Sydney representative Jess Marks, UK import Steph Hutchins and former Box Hill keeper Amy Jennings to the list but losing Tahlia Meier to Box Hill despite the Ballarat connection of new coach Adrian Harris. The True Blues may see a season of change as word is unclear as to how much Emma Inglis will play as she commenced the WNCL season playing for WA and the loss of Tiana Atkinson to Dandenong counteracted by the recruiting of Irish representative Gabby Lewis and Dutch representatives Sterre Kalis and Robine Rijke. If Prahran has their State representatives available before the WBBL then they should take the points for both games, whereas they might find things a little closer if not involved.

Dandenong host Plenty Valley at Shepley Oval. The Panthers will be keen to build on the list from the previous season with Andrew Christie in his second season as coach, while Plenty Valley will be keen to grow on their Semi Final appearance in the One Day component last season. The Panthers have recruited Tiana Atkinson from Prahran, Irish International Kimberley Garth returns for a third season and the news of Australian representative Ellyse Perry joining the club has led the movements inward, with minimal outgoings. The Bats have recruited Beth Harvey from the UK to fill the space occupied by fellow UK import Providence Cowdrill from the previous 2 seasons but have been quiet otherwise on the movement front as Adam Drinkwell looks to keep the growth going. Plenty Valley were the big movers last season and Dandenong took out the T20 title, so am going to play safe and think there could be a splitting of the available points on that day.

Finally, Essendon Maribyrnong Park will host Melbourne at the Albert Ground. The Bombers will need to capitalize on when their State and Australian players make rare appearances this season with Nat Schilov taking on a 1st XI playing ‘Coach’ role, while the recruitment of Scottish International Charis Scott may help to cover some gaps while the loss of Emma Lynch to Ringwood will be noticed. The Demons’ will be looking to capitalize on a breakthrough 2018/19 season for the club with some minor player movements over the season. The result of last season’s Paisley Medalist Amy Yates signing to the ACT may see the Demons lose their key lynchpin from last season and will put pressure on those that supported her with both bat and ball to pick their games up. EMP finished runners-up last season in the T20s but without their Victorian and Australian reps available are brought down a level. Gut feel says like the previous preview there could be both sides going away with a win each for this battle.

MILESTONES:

Congratulations go to the following members within Premier Cricket:

Adam Bull (Prahran) will notch up his 200th Premier 1st XI game when the True Blues take on Casey-South Melbourne at Casey Fields. Bull commenced his career with Dandenong, playing 64 1st XI games for the Panthers between 2001/02 and 2007/08 before a move to Toorak Park prior to the 2008/09 season saw Bull cement his position at the top of the True Blues batting card. Bull has scored 5,230 runs at the time of writing (with 5 centuries and a top of 163 vs Footscray in 2013/14), taken 1 wicket and 93 catches.

Matthew Fotia (Ringwood) will play his 100th 1st XI Game when the Rams travel to the Albert Ground to take on Melbourne. Fotia has taken 137 wickets (with best figures of 5/0 – his only 5-wicket haul), 15 catches and made 150 runs (top of 23*) since his debut in 2013/14.

Liam Bowe (Essendon) will play his 50th 1st XI Game when the Bombers travel to Princes Park to take on Carlton. Bowe has taken 72 wickets (best 4/23), 6 catches and made 89 runs (top score 22) since his debut in 2016/17.

Jennifer Taffs (Essendon Maribyrnong Park) will play her 50th Premier 1st XI Game when the Bombers play Melbourne (1st Game of Day). Taffs has scored 921 runs (top 88* with 6 x 50s) and taken 4 wickets and 18 catches since her debut in the 2015/16 season. All bar her first game (with Melbourne) has been with the Bombers.

Rhiann O’Donnell (Plenty Valley) will play her 50th Premier 1st XI Game when the Bats play Dandenong at Shepley Oval (1st Game of Day). O’Donnell has made 834 runs (top 69 with 4 x 50s) and taken 40 wickets (best 5/14) and 8 catches since her debut in the 2013/14 season.